In 2014 the Samsung Galaxy S5 took the most successful phone formula in the world and gave it a list of practical upgrades that modern flagships have since abandoned. It added water resistance, it kept the removable battery, it kept the microSD slot, and it added a 16 megapixel camera with fast autofocus. The result was the last Samsung flagship that a user could actually repair and maintain by hand, and that makes the unlocked SM-G900A a curious candidate for a used phone in 2026. I spent two weeks with the black, unlocked version to see whether those practical virtues still matter when the software has long since stopped updating.
Before the details, the standard note. This article contains affiliate links, and if you buy through one of them the site earns a small commission at no extra cost to you. That commission does not change what I test or what I recommend, and the unit reviewed here was a used phone I purchased myself.
The black Galaxy S5 has a rear panel covered in a subtle dimpled texture that Samsung called a perforated leather look, and it is a finish that photographs far better than the glossy plastic of its predecessor. The rest of this review covers the design, the IP67 water resistance, the 16 megapixel camera, the fingerprint scanner, the battery, and the honest verdict on a phone that was ahead of its time in ways that now feel like a lost art.
Design and Build
The Galaxy S5 is still a plastic phone, but it is a better plastic phone than the Galaxy S4. The rear cover has a soft touch dimpled texture that adds grip and hides fingerprints, and the black color gives the whole device a understated, professional look. At 5.1 inches and 145 grams, it is slightly larger and heavier than the S4, but still comfortable in one hand, and the slightly raised back keeps the camera lens protected on a desk.
The practical design is the real story. The back cover pops off to reveal a 2800 mAh removable battery, a microSD slot, and the SIM tray, and the charging port sits behind a waterproof flap. A small fabric tab covers the USB 3.0 port, which must be seated correctly to keep the water resistance intact. The fingerprint scanner lives in the home button, and a heart rate sensor sits beside the rear camera flash.
Build quality is good for its era. The plastic creaks a little near the top edge, and the water resistant flaps are delicate, but the phone survives the everyday bumps of pocket life. I dropped it once onto concrete from waist height, and the plastic body shrugged it off with only a small scuff on the frame, which is exactly the kind of durability people want from a used phone.
Key Features
The headline feature is the IP67 rating, which means the phone is fully sealed against dust and can survive submersion in up to a meter of fresh water for 30 minutes. That was remarkable for a flagship with a removable battery in 2014, and it is still rare to find water resistance and a user replaceable battery in the same phone today. Rain, splashes, and accidental drops in the sink are all survivable, provided the flaps are closed.
The camera is the other big feature. The 16 megapixel sensor with phase detection autofocus was the fastest focusing camera of its year, and it produced detailed, well exposed photos in daylight. The 2 megapixel front camera handled selfies, and the camera software included HDR, panorama, and selective focus modes that mimicked the depth effects of the competition.
The S5 also shipped with a fingerprint scanner, which was one of the first on an Android flagship, a heart rate sensor for the S Health app, and a 5.1 inch Super AMOLED display at 1080p with 432 pixels per inch. The phone ran Android 4.4.2 KitKat with TouchWiz at launch and was later updated to Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow, which is where it stopped.
Real-World Performance
Using the black unlocked Galaxy S5 in 2026 is a surprisingly pleasant experience for the fundamentals. Calls are clear, texts send instantly, and the phone handles web browsing, email, and light apps without complaint. The Snapdragon 801 processor with 2GB of RAM is enough for everyday communication, and the 5.1 inch AMOLED screen is still one of the nicer displays you can find on a used phone, with deep blacks and vivid, saturated colors.
The camera is the highlight of daily use. In daylight the 16 megapixel sensor captures sharp, detailed images with accurate colors, and the phase detection autofocus is genuinely fast, which makes the S5 a better street photography camera than many phones that cost more today. Low light is where it falls apart, with noise and softness appearing quickly, because there are no computational night modes to save the shot.
The battery is the other real win. The 2800 mAh cell lasts a full day of moderate use, and because it is removable, I replaced the aging original with a fresh battery in seconds and got a like new day of life. Standby drain is low, and the phone idles through a night with almost no loss. For anyone who has ever cursed a sealed modern phone, this feature feels like freedom.
The software is the limitation. The S5 stops at Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow with no security updates, so modern apps are a gamble, and the ones that do run sometimes feel sluggish because they are written for newer hardware. The fingerprint scanner works but needs a deliberate swipe, and it is far less forgiving than modern sensors. As long as you stay within light apps and avoid sensitive tasks, the phone is usable, but the ceiling is real.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- IP67 water resistance
- Removable battery and microSD slot
- Sharp 16 megapixel camera in daylight
- Vivid 5.1 inch Super AMOLED display
- Fast phase detection autofocus
- Unlocked for GSM carriers
Cons:
- No software updates or security patches
- Poor low light camera performance
- Water resistant flaps are delicate
- Fingerprint scanner is finicky
- Some modern apps will not run
How It Compares
The natural comparison for the Galaxy S5 is against the One M8, its main rival of 2014, and a modern budget phone to show how far things have come. The table below lines up the three.
| Feature | Galaxy S5 | HTC One M8 | Modern Budget |
|---|---|---|---|
| Launch year | 2014 | 2014 | Current |
| Display | 5.1 inch AMOLED | 5 inch LCD | 6.5 inch LCD |
| Rear camera | 16 megapixel | 4 megapixel | 48 megapixel |
| Water resistance | IP67 | No | Optional |
| Battery | 2800 mAh removable | 2600 mAh sealed | 5000 mAh |
| Storage | 16GB plus microSD | 32GB plus microSD | 64GB plus microSD |
| Software support | None | None | Active |
Against the One M8, the S5 wins on camera resolution, water resistance, and battery access, while losing on build materials and speakers. Against a modern budget phone it loses on everything except repairability and screen quality. As a used phone, the S5 is the most practical of the 2014 flagships because of its water resistance and removable battery, but the modern budget phone remains the better buy for anyone who depends on apps.
Who Should Buy It
Buy the unlocked black Galaxy S5 if you want a cheap, repairable phone for calls, texts, media, and daytime photography, and you do not depend on the latest apps. The water resistance and the removable battery are features that cost more to get today, and the AMOLED display makes it a pleasant media device. It is also a sensible option for a child or an older relative who needs a simple, tough phone.
Skip it if you need current security patches, reliable modern app support, or a camera that works after dark. If the practical virtues outweigh the software limits, you can check the current price of the unlocked Galaxy S5 on Amazon when you are ready.
How We Test
I carried the unlocked black Galaxy S5 as a daily secondary phone for two weeks, making calls, sending texts, taking photos in daylight and low light, and streaming video. I tested the water resistance with a careful rinse under a tap with all flaps sealed, replaced the battery with a fresh cell to confirm the removable design works, and ran a selection of modern apps to see what would install.
I did not submerge the phone deliberately beyond the IP67 test conditions, and I did not run synthetic benchmarks. For a thorough look at how the Galaxy S5 was judged at launch, Tom's Guide has a detailed original Galaxy S5 review that is worth reading for historical context. The unlocked Galaxy S5 listing on Amazon shows current pricing and seller availability.
Questions People Ask About the Unlocked Galaxy S5
Is the Galaxy S5 really waterproof?
The IP67 rating means the phone can survive brief submersion in fresh water, but the flap over the charging port must be sealed properly and the rating fades as seals age.
Can the unlocked Galaxy S5 be used on any carrier?
The SM-G900A is factory unlocked and works on GSM carriers such as AT&T and T-Mobile, though it does not support every modern LTE band.
Is the Galaxy S5 battery replaceable?
Yes, the 2800 mAh battery slides out under the back cover, and the phone also accepts a microSD card for expandable storage.
How good is the Galaxy S5 camera?
The 16 megapixel sensor with phase detection autofocus takes fast, detailed photos in good light, but low light performance is dated and noisy.
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